Torpedo-launching apparatus.



Patented Aug. 22, I899.

E. KASELUWSKY.

TOBPEDU LAUNGHING APPARATUS.

Application filed July 8, 1898.)

(No Model.)

mwa E g Jefornu? UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE,

TORPEDO-LAUNCHING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 631,308, dated August Application filed July 8,1898. Serial No. 685,430. No model-) To all whom it may concern:

Be. it known that I, EMIL KASELOWSKY, a subject of the King of Prussia, German Emperor, and a resident of Berlin, in the Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire,whave invented certain new and useful Improvements in Broadside Subaquatic Torpedo-Launching Apparatus, (for which applications have been filed in Germany on tlie 13th of May, 1898, and in Italy on the 15th of June, 1898,) of which the following is an exact specification.

This invention relates to improvements in broadside subaquatic torpedo-launching apparatus, and has for its object partly to obviate the suction exercised by the guide-beam upon the torpedo.

When torpedoes are launched from ships in motion, under theprotection of a guide-beam, (which guide-beam may be arranged upon the vessel so aseitherto slide out or to revolve or be attached to the ship in any other suitable manner,) the said torpedoes must be protected against breaking oflor binding upon (or against) the guide-beam. Also a deviation of the torpedo from its proper path must be avoided. It should be taken into consideration that the torpedo when moving along the guide-beam, in consequence of the suction to which the same is subjected when the ship is in motion, can or may easily by the force of the suction bind against or adhere to the guide-beam, for which reason it is notan easy problem to effect the loosening or passing 0d of the torpedo from the guide-beam, more especially to cause the torpedo to pass off in the right direction, as this before-mentioned suction exercised upon the torpedo depends largely upon the shapeand form of the guidebcam, as well as that of the ship, and also upon the speed of the same.

Hitherto in order to obviate a suction of the torpedo upon the guide-beam two means fact that the position of such launching-tube in the ship itself and again in different vessels varies, and, furthermore, as the current or stream conditions of the water also vary, also the maximum speed which the vessel when, for instance, in a fighting condition should possess, it will be clear that the choice not only of a suitable kind of opening in the guide-beam, but also the choice even of the suitable shape of the guide-beam, has hitherto been connected with considerably-expensive experiments, appertaining more especially to trials and tests of various constructions designed with the above-indicated object in view.

In order to make my invention clear, I refer to the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters denote similar parts throughout the different views, and in which- Figure 1 is a view illustrating the launchingtube and the guide-beam with guiding-rod arranged on the vessel side, illustrating partly a plan and partly a section. Fig. 2 is a section on the line x w of Fig. 1 and drawn to a larger scale.

To fulfil the above-mentioned varied requirements, which have proved to-be necessary to attain the desired result, and to obviate the above-indicated disadvantages, is the object of my invention, which I will now proceed more particularly to describe.

My invention appertains to the employment of adjustable openings for the passage of the Water through the guide-beamviz., of such openings which as regards the longitudinal direction of the beam are independently adjustable-so that both in front and behind, as'also in the center of the guide-beam-or, in other words, at any optional point of the beam-the Water-pressure upon the torpedo may be increased or diminished in order to attain aregular and correct passing off of the torpedo in the direction of its discharge-path without any considerable lateral pressure being exercised upon the torpedo itself or upon its guide-pins, the direct water-pressure upon the one side and thus also the vacuum or suction upon the other side being almost completelyequalized. Theconstructionalmeans for regulating these openings are various and may be optionally chosen.

In the construction shown in the drawings I have employed-or, I may say more precisely, simply illustrated-screws s, with left and right hand threads for this purpose, by means of which or by the turning of which the flaps 70 may be evenly and regularly adjusted and by means of which, furthermore, the sides of the openings 0 in the wedgeshaped guide-beam, which permit the passing through of the water in the direction in which the vessel is goingviz., in the direction of the arrow X-may be decreased. The flaps 7c are adjusted by turning the screws 3 to the right or to the left, thus altering the inclination of the flaps 7c. The adjustment of these flaps is effected when the guide-beam fis in the position represented in the drawings. hen the apparatus is lying in the vessel sidethat is to say, when the guide-beam is in its reposing position-the adjustment of the flaps cannot take place.

It will be clear without further description that a torpedo cannot be held by the suction of water upon the guide-beam when the vessel is in motion if as many openings for the passing through of the water are provided as are shown in Fig. 1. By too great a speed of the vessel, however, it may happen that too great a pressure can be exercised upon the guides .2, (by means of which the torpedo is guided in the guide-beam,) in consequence of which a snapping off of these guides might be feared. This pressure may, moreover, also be present at differentpoints of the torpedo. To obviate such disadvantages or drawbacks, the flaps 7t have been adjustably arranged that is to say, the said flaps may be adjusted as required by turning the screws 5 to the right or to the left. It may with case be ascertained which flaps and to what extent such flaps shall be adjusted to correspond to the various speeds and the varying shape of the vessel and which openings shall be decreased in size in order to fulfil all requirements for the correct and certain discharge of the torpedo.

I desire also to state that instead of screws for the before-mentioned purpose-viz, that of adjusting the flaps-I may employ wedges, levers, eccentrics, as well as any other constructional means, and in this connection I desire distinctly to state that my invention does not consist in the especial construction of the means which I employ; but what I do claim as my invention is the especial and independent adjustment of the closing organs for the openings 0. Furthermore, I desire also to state that these closing organs or devices need not necessarily be flaps, but may be slides or may possess any other suitable form.

I may further provide for the adjustment of the lower closing organ against or toward the upper closing organ in case the suction produces or causes a turning or a one-sided strain of the guide-pin of the torpedo.

In conclusion I have attained the desired result in the manner hereinbefore described and am thus enabled to effect upon the passing off of the torpedo any possible or desired release of the pressn re or any increase of pressure at any point, in consequence of which any injurious undesirable influence upon the torpedo is compensated, equalized, and thus removed.

Having thus fully described the nature of my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is- 1. In torpedo subaquatic launching apparatus, the combination with a guide-beam f, openings 0 provided at both sides of the guidebeam, organs for closing these openings and means to regulate the positions of these closing organs independently one from another, for the purpose and substantially as described.

2. In torpedo subaquatie launching apparatus, the combination with a guide-beam f, openings 0 arranged on both sides of said guide-beam, flaps 70 for closing these openings at will, screws .9 with right and left hand thread arranged to each pair of flaps, for the purpose and substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two witnesses.

EMIL KASELOXVSKY.

V itn esses:

HENRY HASPER, C. II. DAY. 

